FLUTE DREAMS

Alice Gomez

with
Madalyn Blanchett & Marilyn Rife

A collection of compositions featuring the flute and reflecting the cultural heritage of the Native
peoples of the Americas. The music ranges in scope from primal to symphonic and uses an array of
instruments including Native American drums and rattles as well as synthesizers. A unique sound is
created on various selections by several flutes playing in unison.

Native tribes, throughout the history of the Americas, believed playing a flute or a variety of flutes
would bring on special dreams of the past or of sacred places. These compositions, by Alice Gomez,
reflect special sites and rituals of America's Native peoples over the ages and, in effect, conjure dreams
of these past cultures. Gomez, of Mexican Indian heritage, says:

In my recent travels to Santa Fe., N.M., I had the opportunity to visit the various pueblos and cave dwellings surrounding the area. I found myself living in a time other than the present.

In exploring the cave dwellings at Bandelier National Park, I could not help but feel a strong spiritual
presence. From the actual homes built into solid rock, to the sacred kivas, I could see how my
ancestors lived and could almost hear the ancient whispers of their voices. I've always had a fascination
with ancient civilizations; their customs, religion, lifestyle and the role of their music in their societies.

In creating the compositions for "Flute Dreams," I specifically wanted to focus on the musical styles of the Aztec, Inca and Mayan People. These were people existing as early as 500 B.C. The musical instruments they played included flutes, drums covered with animal skin, rattles, gongs, stringed instruments, conch shells and crudely made marimbas.

The musical instruments selected for this recording were carefully chosen in an attempt to imitate the haunting sounds of my ancestors. Electronic instruments were also used in this recording strictly for textural enhancement, and not authenticity.